Greg & Mark’s intimate wedding ceremony at Adalina Chicago. This sweet duo wanted their day to feel personal with a fun Chicago/Speakeasy vibe. Their choice of venue was perfect with the ceremony taking place in the Rose Lounge and the dinner to follow in the Dahlia Room upstairs.

A gorgeous early December wedding day surrounded by their nearest and dearest. Mark and Greg started their day out at the iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel. They helped each other get ready with every personal detail, including stunning cuff links gifted to them. After a few portraits on the balcony looking over Chicago’s winter views, they were greeted warmly in the lobby by family.

Before making our way around the corner to the restaurant, we snuck out for a few portraits of the grooms alone. The glistening Christmas tree at the hotel entrance and the streets lined with lights were the perfect backdrops for these dapper gentlemen.

Walking out of the elevator hand in hand, Greg and Mark made their way through their seated guests in the Rose Lounge. Greeted by a beautiful flower display by City Scents Chicago donning the chandelier above, the couple stood in front of everyone to say their vows. After a lot of emotions, and even more hugs, Greg, Mark, and all of their guests celebrated with delicious cocktails and food.

We all made our way up through the restaurant to their intimate dinner setting in the Dahlia Room, and one by one, all of their guests stood to share love, toasts, and fun memories of the duo.

It was the perfect evening.

Venue : @adalinachicago
Florist : @cityscentschicago
Tux : @theblacktux

CONGRATULATIONS FRIENDS!

Mary & Steve’s November wedding at Bridgeport Art Center: A day full of color and lots of favorite Chicago locations for photos.

Mary & Steve created a perfect fall wedding day in the city.

We started their photo adventures at Museum Campus with their adorable dog, Basil for their engagement session. I knew right away these two would be so fun to photograph. They were so comfortable with one another, and the smiles were so natural. I loved hearing about how they envisioned their upcoming wedding and watching how they interacted with each other. They couldn’t help but get excited about all the details.

From the bride: “I want the vibe to be fun, not super formal/romantic, etc. My ideal wedding will be maximum time dancing, having fun, and talking to people.”

I can truly say their day was 100% full of color. The amazing flowers from Ki House alone stood out as soon as we walked into the room. The details of the day were simply elegant and vibrant. My kind of vibe.

I started the day at their home, being greeted with huge smiles, and everyone was finishing up makeup and hair with Windy City Glam. There was so much excitement in the room. After an adorable first look with her bridesmaids, Mary walked outside to see her dad for a few quiet moments together. First looks with dads are honestly some of my favorite moments.

We then made our way to Lincoln Park for Mary and Steve’s first look at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. The green palms inside are the perfect backdrop for wedding day portraits. After their first look, I immediately saw the sun setting through the windows. It was amazing light and made for some of the most gorgeous portraits.

The wedding party joined in after for a few indoor portraits, and then we made sure to get the classic Chicago skyline photo just outside the Conservatory entrance. We lucked out with gorgeous weather and blue skies.

The amazing team from Stunning and Brilliant Events did a phenomenal job setting up the ceremony and reception space at Bridgeport. It was absolutely gorgeous. Mary and Steve mingled and danced the night away alongside their friends, family, and the very talented Hey Jimmy Band.

It was a perfect night!

Wedding Day Creative Team:

Planner : @stunningandbrilliantevents
Florist : @ki.house
Venue : @bridgeportartcenter
Dress : @thealtarbridalbarrington
Suit : @generationtux
Hair: @windycityglam
Makeup : @lillyjam13
Catering/Linens : @cocinafusioncatering
Production/Lighting : @art_imagination
Band : @heyjimmyband
Cake : @verzenaychicago

CONGRATULATIONS FRIENDS!

Kat & Tony’s Chicago wedding at Salvatore’s Restaurant: A black and white and classic Chicago wedding day.

The weather was cold, gloomy, and honestly, quite on point for a late October date in the city. It made for some amazing clouds over the lake for photos later. After a busy morning, everyone made their way to the iconic Holy Name Cathedral for an unforgettably gorgeous ceremony.

The architecture alone of this church brings tourists from all over the world to visit. Being able to photograph a wedding inside is truly a gift. Walking in, you can’t help but look straight up in awe. Then being able to watch your couple walk down to each other for the ceremony is quite an experience.

After their first kiss, Kat and Tony solidified their vows with a double high-five and the biggest smiles.

We made our way to the Lake for a few portraits of the entire wedding party under some iconic stormy clouds and made sure to work quickly with the fast-dropping temperatures. Kat and Tony were amazing. They never once complained about how cold or windy it was. Not unlike their cold afternoon for their engagement session, they simply enjoyed themselves. They were the best to work with!

The reception took place at Salvatore’s Restaurant, an amazing Italian location in Chicago. After a delicious dinner and a few very emotional speeches, Kat and Tony were off to the dance floor showcasing their choreographed dance for all of their guests.

Their wedding was intimate, romantic, and emotional. The best of two beautiful people coming together to celebrate their life. It was perfect.

Venue : @salvatoreschicago
Church : @holynamecathedral
Florist : @tearoseflowershop
Hair/Makeup : @goldplaited_
DJ : @that_djdiamond
Dress : @lbrbridal
Suit : @theblacktux

CONGRATULATIONS!

Rachel and Anthony’s wedding at CDandME:

Rachel and Anthony’s wedding day started with lots of rain and crazy wind. Gotta love IL weather. It was quite the opposite of their sun-filled engagement session on the water up in Wisconsin. Regardless, these two didn’t let any concern or stress show for a second.

I was met with the biggest smiles in both hotel rooms from Rachel and her girls and Anthony and his guys. They were so excited to celebrate come rain or shine. I was also so happy to be greeted by their adorable dog, Ruger again. Hey was the star of the show during their engagement and let me tell you, in that custom dog tux, he did not disappoint for the wedding day either. This day and all of the decor was centered around this beautiful family of 3. From the cake topper to the table centerpieces, Ruger was present throughout.

Rachel and Anthony and their amazing wedding party made do with whatever weather we were given. I found a covered spot for photos, and they nailed every single one. The best part of the day was arriving at CDandME and the storm, out of nowhere, completely stopped in time for family photos. We rushed to get as many photos as possible up to the start of the ceremony. The sun even came out for a few! It was perfect. Shortly after, deciding to move the ceremony indoors became the best decision as round 2 of this crazy rainstorm began minutes before.

After a sweet ceremony with the beautiful backdrop of the grounds at CDandME, Rachel and Anthony kissed and were announced husband and wife. The rest of the night included a bridal dress change, night portraits, lots of fun group portraits, and an epic dance floor.

Florist : Bloom and Bread

Congratulations Rachel & Anthony!

Samantha and Brian’s wedding rehearsal at the iconic Osteria Via Stato : a night surrounded by friends and family and a venue decked out for the holidays. The evening was intimate yet full wall-to-wall with amazing guests and delicious food.

Rehearsals are always the best way to incorporate more speeches for the couple in a unique way. You can create an evening where several friends and family members share stories that might not get the time on the wedding day. It’s a time to celebrate the festivities to come.

And what better way than in a beautiful Chicago restaurant setting with amazing food?!

Cheers friends!

Holly & Ewan’s Wedding at Scottsdale Plaza Resort: A full sun day with 100+ temperatures, colorful Arizona plant life, and the most gorgeous bride and groom.

I love that we started in Chicago for their proposal and engagement and ended in Scottsdale for their wedding.

Driving into the resort, you are met with a beautiful palm tree-lined road leading up to the rooms. As a photographer based out of Chicago, this view in itself was amazing enough. Then I met up with the wedding party and I knew that with the colorful background created by the resort’s landscaping, the pictures were going to be so fun to create.

Holly and Ewan planned a first look followed by a private vow exchange, and when the idea was presented to me, I was so excited to witness it. They gave themselves time to be alone, read their vows, cry, and hug with no one else around. It was so unique and special.

Finding whatever shade we could, we explored the grounds with the wedding party, dodging the 100+ degree Arizona heat. With all the excitement, though, none of us seemed to notice just how hot it was. As the guests began to arrive, we noticed storm clouds coming in and gratefully accepted any cloud coverage and breeze provided.

The skyline quickly changed from open blue skies to stormy clouds just in time for the ceremony’s start. After lots of tears and cheers, we welcomed the newlyweds into their outdoor reception space, where a gorgeous post-storm sunset greeted us all. The rest of the night was full of non-stop dancing, lots of family photos, and one very happy bride and groom.

IT WAS PERFECT.

The Wedding Creative Team:

Venue : @thescottsdaleplazaresort
Planner : @inaweweddings
Chair rental : @ycbt_partyrentals
Hair/Makeup : @laura_flagler
Dress : @grace_loves_lace
Bridesmaids : @petalandpup
Men’s Formalwear : @celebtuxntails
Music : @mancinientertainment
Florist : Kelly Martin Designs

CONGRATULATIONS!

Bari & Colin’s Chicago wedding at Morgan Manufacturing :

SO much color, a giant bull mural for portraits, fitting a 22-person wedding party into the United Center for photos with the Chicago Bulls championship trophies, and non-stop dancing ALL NIGHT! This was the wedding celebration we waited over 2 years for!

Bari and Colin, like so many other couples during COVID had to postpone their wedding. These two, however, only postponed the big reception. Their intimate backyard ceremony still happened and I am still so honored I was there to photograph it.

While their small wedding ceremony was definitely one for the books, this wedding was one I’ll truly never forget, especially with their adorable daughter included this time around.

The stunning details for the ceremony space were vibrant and colorful, but walking into their reception was something out of a dream. Hanging flowers, eclectic table placements, and endless amounts of candlelights. And the food! Well, the pictures below will explain it all. This was one epic wedding day.

Wedding Creative Team :
Venue : @morgan.mfg
Planner : Reva Nathan
Florist : @hmrdesigns @petalharder
Band : @arlenmusicproductions
Video : Xpress Video
Hair : @hairbyerinahern
Makeup : @kellylabanco_mua
Caterer : @entertaining_co
Cake : @cake_chicago
Shoes : @alexandrebirman
Dress : @aliceinivorybridal
Suit : @menswearhouse
Linens : @BBJlinen
Tabletop Decor : @thefestivefrog
Lighting & draping : @eleganteventlighting

A little about the lovely couple :

1.  When did you meet?  Where?  

They met in October 2012 while working together at the same Engineering Company. At the time, Bari was in charge of the Marketing and HR departments, so it was she that sent Colin his formal offer letter!
It wasn’t until 2015 though that they went on their first date!

2.  When did you get engaged?  Where? 

Colin asked Bari’s Dad for permission to marry her in January 2019 on the yearly family trip to Aruba. We then got engaged on May 11, 2019 in the Singer backyard in Long Grove, IL. We had planned to go there that day to celebrate Bari’s dad’s birthday, but little did she know, Colin (and the family) had other plans in mind! After Colin proposed, Colin had a few other surprises in store – Colin, Bari and her family went downtown to Gibson’s Italia for dinner followed by a surprise party at Sunda with all of their friends (because an engagement night without Sushi just doesn’t seem right when it comes to Bari and Colin).

3.  How did the proposal happen?  

We started our wedding process by hiring a wedding planner that came highly recommended by many friends and family friends (Reva Nathan). After that, we used her referrals and suggestions, as well as some others from our closest friends (hello – Liz!). Pre-covid, the process was fun and easy going! We enjoyed it a lot!

4.  What was the most important aspect for you two when planning?  

One of the most important aspects was creating/having an event that was fun for and included all of our friends and family. Next up was food! Both of us consider ourselves foodies, so having sushi for Bari and fried chicken sandwiches that resembled Doc B’s for Colin were a must!

5.  What is one thing about your spouse that many people might not know? Any funny, sweet, silly stories?

During the beginning of the quarantine not only did we work in the same room, but at the same desk. While that would be a recipe for disaster for some couples, it actually worked in our favor, and when we moved to a bigger space, we still share the same room. Not the same desk though!
Bari prides herself on being a foodie, yet is actually very picky.
Colin is actually the romantic one in the relationship.

6.  Any advice for future couples?  

 Don’t sweat the small stuff. Be flexible and open minded. At the end of the day, this is supposed to be about love and fun!

THANKS FOR SHARING!

Alli & Joe’s Chicago wedding at Salvatore’s Restaurant in Lincoln Park.

“My wedding details are simple with minimal decor. I am all about just enjoying the moment and making sure everyone is having a good time. I really wanted to get a unique and ethereal vibe, especially through my dress and Joe’s suit (floral dress and light blue suit).”

When I read this wedding day vision I couldn’t wait to see her dress. These two were the epitome of what it means to be super chill on your wedding day. We met right outside the Lincoln Park Conservatory for photos. Alli walked up with her floral dress flowing in the wind looking like an actual princess out of a Disney movie. Joe’s light blue suit was a perfect contrast. They first saw each other in a big open field and made it seem like no one else was around. Their wedding party consisted of some of the sweetest and most attentive friends. After a few photos in the park, we made our way – literally walking – to their venue a few blocks North.

When I asked them about their venue, they told me the food was what convinced them to book there. The classic Chicago Italian restaurant and impeccable staff only solidified their choice.

From heartfelt speeches to the most vibrant dance floor, these two celebrate a perfect day as husband and wife.

Their Wedding Creative Team :

Venue: @salvatoreschicago
DJ: @djchicagogram
Hair/Makeup: @alyssalynnmakeup
Cake: @ecbg_studio
Dress: @bhldn
Suit: @suitsupply
Florist: Primrose

Ryan and Travis’s Chicago wedding at South Branch was colorful, detailed, personal, and fun! Just like so many others, these grooms had to make the decision to push their nuptials back 1 year due to COVID. I truly think it all worked out how it was meant to, though, as we had the most beautiful day on the lake for their engagement photos, and their wedding day could not have been prettier. They described their decision to push back the wedding when I sent over my wedding blog survey :

“Pushing it out to summer 2022 was our best option. We gave ourselves time to enjoy the engagement and started planning pretty quickly into the new year. We did our venue first to nail down a date and then moved to the other two major pieces: photos and music. We knew Liz was a great fit for us because of the referrals from friends, but also our zoom meeting that seemed like we were talking to a friend. It started with us and not our wedding. Liz then was very helpful and we found our DJ through the recommendation list she provided.” – The sweetest! We really did talk for quite a while on that Zoom call and it truly felt like I was chatting with old friends. 🙂

The weather was perfect! And that is especially needed when you plan lots of photos outside (which we did!) AND an outdoor ceremony. After a few photos of each groom getting ready at the W Chicago, Ryan and I jumped in an Uber to meet Travis at the south garden by the Art Institute. I had Ryan wait behind the gate entrance and made my way towards Travis to turn him around and get ready for their first look.

When you are ready, turn around Travis. 🙂 They both looked so amazing in their suits and immediately rushed to each other for a big hug and kiss. The rest of the afternoon was filled with the most joyous wedding party, walking all around Millennium Park, and ending at the iconic Buckingham Fountain, where I don’t know how it was possible on such a gorgeous day in June, but we had or photo spot all to ourselves!

Off to South Branch for family photos and lots of water before the guests began to arrive. Then, as the sun peeked through the surrounding buildings, Ryan and Travis made their way down the aisle surrounded by all their family and friends to officially say I DO. The ceremony was short, sweet, and emotional, officiated by close friends, and before we knew it, it was time to party!

Ryan & Travis’s Wedding Creative Team :

Wedding Venue : @southbranchchi
Florist : @catherinesgardens
DJ : @toastandjamdjs
Hair/Makeup : @blushandbraidsbeautybar
Suits : @suitsupply

The best day! Love ya’ll! 😉

A little more about Ryan & Travis :

When did you meet? Where?
A. We are one of the Tinder success stories. We were talking for a bit before agreeing to meet up in person. We had our first date at a bar in Lakeview and it’s been great ever since.

When did you get engaged? Where? How did the proposal happen?
A. We got engaged in October of 2020. We had just closed on our first place together and Travis made an off the cuff comment to Ryan about how getting out of a mortgage was harder than getting out of a marriage. A day later, Ryan proposed as Travis “unpacked” a very important box.

What was the most important aspect for you two when planning your wedding?
A. For us, we wanted our guests to have a great time. We had a lot of friends from out of town come in and we wanted to not only showcase the city of Chicago, but also our life there. Our rehearsal dinner was at our local bar (shout out to Toons!) and then opened it up to everyone to just enjoy time together. We really enjoyed this extra time to be with our guests. After that, our venue being on the river and outside for most of it really helped sell the case of why we live in Chicago. The food/drink/music combo was also excellent, so that helped our guests have a good time.

How did you choose your wedding venue(s)? (Price/location/availability/etc.?)
A. We got married at South Branch Grille and Tavern and we really enjoyed the option to be outdoors for most of it while being surrounded by the downtown buildings.They were great to work with and we enjoyed everything about the venue. Being a restaurant, it’s our plan to go there for dinner on our anniversaries.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding day?
A. We loved how our worlds collided and everyone matched so well. This was a time where two families (and yes, our friends are included in that) really became one.

What were the first dance songs?
A. We danced to “Take the World” by JOHNNYSWIM. The song doesn’t hold anything particular meaning, but does have some beautiful lyrics.

Where did you (or plan to) go for your honeymoon?
A. We were fortunate enough to spend a good amount of time away because of Ryan’s teaching schedule and Travis holding onto some vacation time. We spent about 16 days in France and Morocco. It was such a great time to be together and experience new parts of the world.

What is one thing about your spouse that many people might not know? Any funny, sweet, silly stories?
A. Ryan – There’s a lot of great things about Travis, but one of the things I love the most is how great of a friend he is to everyone. He is great at keeping in contact with people and keeping up with them. He truly feels honored to have these people as his friends and works hard to keep them in his life.Travis –

– Ryan can anticipate (and prevent!) problems better than anyone I know. He has like a sixth sense for being able to think things out fully and completely and is always prepared. All weather, all scenarios, all contingencies – he’s undeterred.

Can you give any advice for future couples planning a wedding?
A. Something will go wrong and no one will notice. Don’t stress about the day being “perfect.” There were things at our wedding that didn’t go as planned and no one noticed until we brought it up to them. People will remember the great memories, not the tiny mishaps. And make sure to eat!

THANKS FOR SHARING!

Hannah & Ricky’s wedding at the Morton Arboretum

“For both of us, the most important aspect of our wedding planning was finding a great photographer so that we could remember our special day forever!“

When I first met Hannah and Ricky, the detail in which they planned their day was impressive to say the least. I was so happy to be a part of it all. Talking over their day, I could immediately tell how perfect they were together. They both were involved with every step of the process, including taking photo suggestions from me and giving their input in return. I loved listening to them talk about how they envisioned their day.

When Hannah and Ricky told me they were getting married at the Morton Arboretum, my only reaction was excitement. The grounds are gorgeous there, especially in the Summer, and I knew so many of the spots we chose would be a stunning backdrop with this sweet duo.

As soon as I walked into Hannah’s hotel room on the wedding day, I was met with the biggest smile. Everyone was so happy and excited. They even hung a ‘Future Mrs. Huddleston’ banner for her to celebrate. After they both got dressed and put on their final touches, we were driven to the first look spot. Hannah’s dad drove us around the park for photos. It was the absolute sweetest!

Hannah slowly made her way down a quiet tree-lined pathway to where Ricky was waiting at the end of the bridge. After a little tap on the shoulder and a quick turn around, you could see the nerves melt away and the smiles widen. They were both so ready to see each other! We took some time for photos of just the two of them and then made our way to one of my favorite spots in the park to meet the entire wedding party, the Spruce Tree Lot. The light that day and the colors were out of this world. I was a happy photographer. 🙂

After lots of smiles, a lot of photos with their adorable dog Taz, even more family portraits, and a little time to freshen up, we made our way down the pathway from their venue to their outdoor ceremony on the water. The weather was perfect! Happy tears all around and shouts of joy as they said I DO and off we went to dance the night away.

These huge Star Wars fans paired just enough of their favorite details with the beautiful backdrop of the floor-to-ceiling windows facing out to the water. You could still see their ceremony chairs set up as the sun was starting to set.

Hannah and Ricky, your day was a beautiful walk in the park…quite literally! I loved every detail!

Venue : @mortonarb
Florist : @blushbloomsco
Dress : @adriannapapell @brilliantbridal
Suit : @josabank
Hair : @debrapetrielli.team
Makeup : @daniveneziamua

Get to know a little more about the couple :

• Q. When did you meet? Where?
  A. Ricky and Hannah met in downtown Denver, in the summer of 2017. Hannah began as an intern at the company Ricky worked for and after about 4 months, near the end of her internship, Ricky finally asked Hannah out on a date! They walked along the 16th Street mall, had dinner together, and shared a piece of cheesecake!
• Q. When did you get engaged? Where? How did the proposal happen?
  A. Ricky proposed to Hannah while they were on vacation in Pensacola, Florida on New Year’s Day, 2021! Ricky had gone to walk on the beach early in the morning under the guise of searching for shells, but he was really scoping out a proposal spot to carve “Marry Me!” in the sand! When Hannah came looking for him, after sleeping in, he brought her up to his caving and before she knew it, Ricky was down on one knee with a spectacular diamond ring!
• Q. How did you start your wedding planning process? Through referrals, planner, own research, etc.?
  A. Our wedding planning started with a spreadsheet Hannah’s sister had put together for her wedding a few years prior. From that point on, there was a ton of Pinterest research and googling! We found a wedding venue and everything fell perfectly into place after that!
• Q. How did you choose your wedding venue(s)?
  A. When choosing our wedding venue, we prioritized the location. We fell in love with the ceremony spot and picked a wedding date based on the availability they had.
• Q. What was your favorite thing about your wedding day?
  A. For Hannah, her favorite part was dancing all night long with her friends and family.
  For Ricky, his favorite part was the first look and seeing Hannah for the first time in her wedding dress, looking beautiful.
• Q. What were the first dance songs?
  A. Newlywed first song: Imperial March by Samuel Kim
  Mother / Son: My Wish by Rascal Flatts
  Father / Daughter: You’ll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins + Crank That by Soulja Boy
• Q. Where did you (or plan to) go for your honeymoon?
  A. We went to Bali, Indonesia for a two-week honeymoon! We spent the first half on the north eastern coast in the town of Tulamben scuba diving and the second half exploring the jungle of Ubud.
• Q. What is one thing about your spouse that many people might not know? Any funny, sweet, silly stories?
  A. One thing many people might not know about Ricky is that he is an animal whisperer. At every gathering and get-together, every dog and cat wants to sit in his lap and be pet by him.
  One thing many people might not know about Hannah is that she is not a very good cook. Before she met Ricky, she was a cereal and mac & cheese kinda girl, until he taught her the basics and now they make proper dinners together, almost every night!
• Q. Can you give any advice for future couples planning a wedding?
  A. Our advice for future couples planning a wedding is to plan together? Involve your partner in the wedding planning process. It should be a joint effort, and both of your preferences and ideas should be considered. Additionally, we would recommend doing thorough research on vendors, venues, and other services you’ll need for your wedding. Compare prices, read reviews, and ask for recommendations to make informed decisions and get the best value for your money.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING!